Video released in fire that police call burglary diversion

Police seek the public's help in locating a man suspected of setting a fire at an apartment complex, then attempting to burglarize a residential unit. The man was confronted by a resident, who he pepper-sprayed in the face before fleeing the scene.Police described the intruder and arsonist as a 25 to 35-year-old Hispanic or Middle-Eastern man, about 5-foot-9 or 6-feet tall with a heavy build, dark curly hair and a mole on one of his cheeks. He was seen wearing a black leather jacket, light blue jeans, tan shoes and carrying a black back-pack.COURTESY OF THE IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT

IRVINE – Police have determined that a man who confronted and pepper-sprayed a resident during a fire evacuation Wednesday night had intentionally set the blaze to allow him to burglarize the building.

Security footage released Thursday shows a man making several attempts to start a fire in the ASIX 2300 Luxury Apartments leasing office before successfully using paper to ignite flames on a couch, quickly filling the room with smoke.

Police say the same man is believed to have then broken into an apartment, where he was reportedly confronted by a returning resident.

The fire in the bottom floor of the apartment building in the 2300 block of Dupont Drive was reported about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within 15 minutes, containing it to the leasing office. Additional crews were called to assist with the evacuation of the building.

During the evacuation, a male resident who had left his apartment returned to get his car keys and discovered a man inside the unit, Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen said.

Police believe the intruder intended to burglarize the unit when he was surprised by the resident.

"It was just a freak thing," Engen said.

A confrontation between the two men ensued, Engen said, and the intruder pepper-sprayed the resident before fleeing.

There was no indication that the intruder had stolen anything before fleeing, Engen said. The resident was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Police described the man suspected as the intruder and arsonist as 25 to 35 years old, Hispanic or Middle Eastern, about 5-foot-9 to 6 feet tall with a heavy build, dark curly hair and a mole on one cheek. He was seen wearing a black leather jacket, light blue jeans and tan shoes and carrying a black backpack.

Investigators are in contact with other police departments to see if the man is tied to other incidents.

Authorities also are searching for a second "person of interest" seen at the complex – a man described as 40 to 50 years old with a dark complexion and white goatee who was wearing a black beanie, black jacket and blue jeans and carrying an orange and black backpack.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the man to call detectives in the Irvine Police Department's arson unit at 714-573-6712 or email bmiller@cityofirvine.org.

Police seek the public's help in locating a man suspected of setting a fire at an apartment complex, then attempting to burglarize a residential unit. The man was confronted by a resident, who he pepper-sprayed in the face before fleeing the scene.Police described the intruder and arsonist as a 25 to 35-year-old Hispanic or Middle-Eastern man, about 5-foot-9 or 6-feet tall with a heavy build, dark curly hair and a mole on one of his cheeks. He was seen wearing a black leather jacket, light blue jeans, tan shoes and carrying a black back-pack. COURTESY OF THE IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police seek the public's help in locating a man suspected of setting a fire at an apartment complex, then attempting to burglarize a residential unit. The man was confronted by a resident, who he pepper-sprayed in the face before fleeing the scene.Police described the intruder and arsonist as a 25 to 35-year-old Hispanic or Middle-Eastern man, about 5-foot-9 or 6-feet tall with a heavy build, dark curly hair and a mole on one of his cheeks. He was seen wearing a black leather jacket, light blue jeans, tan shoes and carrying a black back-pack. COURTESY OF THE IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police seek a man believed to be a "person of interest" in an arson and burglary attempt at an Irvine apartment complex. Authorities described him as a a 40 to 50-year-old man with a dark complexion and white goatee who was wearing a black beanie, black jacket, blue jeans and carrying an orange and black backpack. COURTESY OF THE IRVINE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Irvine Police investigate an arson fire at a leasing office in an apartment complex on the 2300 block of Dupont Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m in Irvine. The suspect attempted to rob an apartment and pepper sprayed the resident. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER
A fire investigator investigates an arson fire at a leasing office in an apartment complex on the 2300 block of Dupont Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m in Irvine. The suspect attempted to rob an apartment and pepper sprayed the resident. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER
A man swipes water out of the lobby after an arson fire at a leasing office in an apartment complex on the 2300 block of Dupont Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m in Irvine. The suspect attempted to rob an apartment and pepper sprayed the resident. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER
Irvine Police investigate an arson fire at a leasing office in an apartment complex on the 2300 block of Dupont Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m in Irvine. The suspect attempted to rob an apartment and pepper sprayed the resident. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER
Irvine Police investigate an arson fire at a leasing office in an apartment complex on the 2300 block of Dupont Drive shortly after 8:30 p.m in Irvine. The suspect attempted to rob an apartment and pepper sprayed the resident. KEVIN WARN, FOR THE REGISTER

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